Okay, this isn’t exactly breaking news—we’ve all seen it coming for weeks—but it’s now officially official: Marcos Senesi has joined Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer. He was previously at Bournemouth before his contract expired this summer. He’ll wear shirt number 5.
Rather than re-explain why I think this is a smart short-to-medium-term signing, I’ll just reshare what I wrote when we first learned his contract was signed.
In my view, Senesi is the most logical signing Tottenham have made this summer. Sure, at 29, he’s a bit further along the age curve, but the Argentine is a very well-rounded central defender. He’s comfortable with the ball at his feet, strong in the air, and composed in possession—all qualities that should endear him to Roberto De Zerbi. Senesi is a high-volume passer, though his completion percentage takes a slight hit because he tends to attempt longer, riskier passes from deep rather than safe short balls to the defensive midfielder. Like Micky van de Ven, he also likes to step up out of the backline to make defensive interventions higher up the pitch. He ranks fifth among all defenders in Europe’s top leagues in possession-adjusted defensive action VAEP.
Given his age, he’s unlikely to be a long-term solution for Spurs, but the skills he brings should help transform Tottenham into a team that fits De Zerbi’s pressing and mid-to-high block tactics better than they currently do.
Senesi may not be an automatic starter with Cuti Romero and Micky van de Ven still at the club—but then again, he just might be. He’ll certainly push for playing time and could become a regular if De Zerbi opts for a back three.
The number 5 shirt was last worn by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. Previous players to sport it include Jan Vertonghen (miss you, Jan), David Bentley, Edgar Davids, Gary Mabbutt, Ricky Villa, and even Bill Nicholson and Sir Alf Ramsey. That’s a heavyweight shirt to inherit. Hope he does it justice.
Welcome to Tottenham, Marcos!
